Dr Tunji Alausa, the Nigerian Education Minister, has instructed vice-chancellors of all federal universities to apply rigorous scrutiny to their staffing proposals. In a letter dated October 19, 2026, Alausa warned that current recruitment patterns are straining the federal personnel budget. According to Punch, the directive asserts that many institutions submit requests without fully accounting for the financial implications borne by the state. The minister argued that the process is disconnected from the actual cost of additional staff, which is entirely funded by the federal government.
The directive requires universities to split their requests into two groups: replacements for departing staff and new hires. Punch reported that Alausa stated positions vacated by retirement, resignation, death, dismissal, or transfer are eligible for replacement. However, requests for extra staff, particularly those linked to new academic programmes or expansion, must meet stricter conditions. Universities must prove that proposed courses have genuine market demand and that graduates will find employment. They must also show that the new programmes are distinct and do not duplicate existing offerings at other institutions.
This move responds to growing personnel expenses within the federal university system. Punch noted that budget estimates for 2026 show a significant jump in staffing costs. Allocations for the 20 largest federal universities rose from N438.85 billion in 2025 to N533.1 billion in 2026. This increase of N94.25 billion represents a 22 percent rise. Alausa expressed concern that some hiring drives support courses with limited job market appeal, suggesting that current plans do not always align with national human capital goals.
At the same time, the Education Ministry clarified the status of recruitment waivers. In a Monday statement, the ministry confirmed that the waiver process is still active, countering claims that President Bola Tinubu had suspended it. Spokesperson Boriowo Folasade explained that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service handles establishment waivers, while a committee led by the Education Minister reviews recruitment waivers. The ministry suggested that confusion arose from remarks made at the first convocation of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Bauchi State on October 17, 2026. The event, attended by 50 pioneer graduates, featured a speech by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund’s executive secretary, who represented the president.